It's a tricky thing, satire. At its lowest, it's just people who have no ideas regurgitating what they've seen before. But, at its best, it illuminates deep human truths. I would say VOYEUR lies somewhere between those two extremes. Satire is the highest form of comedy because it forces one to look at the actual behavior being skewered and wonder at its logic. It forces one to truly examine the world we live in and make decisions about what we feel about that world.
Satire has existed as long as theatre. Aristophenes lampooned Socrates in THE CLOUDS and disguised a political treatise on war as a sex farce in LYSISTRATA. Gilbert and Sullivan poked fun at the stuffy mores of Victorian society and the very form of opera itself. Today, THE BOOK OF MORMON is raking in the shekels on Broadway. And here we are, singing songs about sniffing cats and Ben Franklin's shriveled 300-year-old peepee. High-minded indeed!
VOYEUR is about us, "even-tempered, progressive gentlemen" swirling in a vortex of mindless conservatism. It cannot be said enough. Cynthia crystallized this point of view perfectly as the show was opening. She told us not to worry about people yelling things at the stage, getting tipsy/rowdy, and just generally taking ownership of the show. "VOYEUR is theirs. It belongs to them just as much as it belongs to us," she said. How true! Actors can be a little pissy when people aren't paying full attention to them. I don't have that problem. I just go on, even as the people at the tables talk to each other, in full voice, about what I'm saying. I remember what Cynthia said. It's not about me. It's about US.
I could go on and on and on about how important VOYEUR is, and satire in a more general sense, but I won't. I thought I would have more to say this year, but I don't. All I wish to say about this year's VOYEUR, other than it has been an absolute pleasure to work with this wonderful cast and amazing production team, is that it can all be summed up by the Act 3 Opener: They Don't Own This. Definitely my favorite number in the show. It's exactly what this show is about. That flag is as much mine as anyone else's. I love it just as much. This year's VOYEUR has reminded me how proud I am to be an American. A progressive American. Who likes dick jokes.
Lastly, WE'RE CLOSED!!!!
SATURDAY'S VOYEUR runs throughout the summer. Tickets available online or by calling the Box Office: 801.363.7522.
